Burma - access to satellite

Satellite TV costs soar in Burma
Burma has imposed a huge rise in satellite television fees, in a move critics say is designed to limit access to foreign media.

The fee for renewing the licence has risen to 1m kyat ($800, £400), far beyond the reach of most people.

There was no announcement about the rise, and people only learnt about it when they went to renew their licences.

The media is tightly controlled in Burma, and many people get their news from foreign satellite channels.

The cost of renewing a satellite licence has risen by 16,566%, from 6,000 kyat ($5, £2.50) to 1m kyat, three times the average annual salary.

Even though no official reason has been given for the increase, one Burma watcher said it could be to censor foreign media.

It could also be to earn more revenue, since the government is short of hard currency.